Ex-cop baits local crooked police in Texas with fake grow house that gets raided

KopBusters rented a house in Odessa, Texas and began growing two small Christmas trees under a grow light similar to those used for growing marijuana. When faced with a suspected marijuana grow, the police usually use illegal FLIR cameras and/or lie on the search warrant affidavit claiming they have probable cause to raid the house.

KopBusters rented a house in Odessa, Texas and began growing two small Christmas trees under a grow light similar to those used for growing marijuana. When faced with a suspected marijuana grow, the police usually use illegal FLIR cameras and/or lie on the search warrant affidavit claiming they have probable cause to raid the house.

"Masterful and arrogant wealth, created largely by Government protection of its profits, not content with its domination and influence within a single party, had sought to corrupt them both, and to that end had insinuated itself into the primaries, in order that no candidates might be nominated whose views were not in accord with theirs." (‘Colonel’ Edward Mandell House in 'Philip Dru: Administrator', circa 1912)

KopBusters rented a house in Odessa, Texas and began growing two small Christmas trees under a grow light similar to those used for growing marijuana. When faced with a suspected marijuana grow, the police usually use illegal FLIR cameras and/or lie on the search warrant affidavit claiming they have probable cause to raid the house.

Member of Ron Paul Forums Double Flat Tariff Only Society - Working towards eliminating all the foreign producer/outsource subsidizing internal federal taxes in favor of an across the board flat tariff applied equally to every country and every product.

Kops get TOTALLY punked!! The best!!

KopBusters rented a house in Odessa, Texas and began growing two small Christmas trees under a grow light similar to those used for growing marijuana. When faced with a suspected marijuana grow, the police usually use illegal FLIR cameras and/or lie on the search warrant affidavit claiming they have probable cause to raid the house. Instead of conducting a proper investigation which usually leads to no probable cause, the Kops lie on the affidavit claiming a confidential informant saw the plants and/or the police could smell marijuana coming from the suspected house.

The trap was set and less than 24 hours later, the Odessa narcotics unit raided the house only to find KopBuster's attorney waiting under a system of complex gadgetry and spy cameras that streamed online to the KopBuster's secret mobile office nearby.

The attorney was handcuffed and later released when eleven KopBuster detectives arrived with the media in tow to question the illegal raid. The police refused to give KopBusters the search warrant affidavit which is suspected to contain the lies regarding the probable cause.

This operation was the first of its kind in the history of America. Police sometimes have other police investigating their crimes but the American court system has never dealt with a group of citizens stinging the police. Will the police file charges on the team who took down the corrupt cops?

"Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it." - Henry David Thoreau

Yeah it would be great to see this happen all over the place. I bet some civil liberties groups would pay these guys to do it in specific cities in order to make the local law enforcement really careful about just getting warrants willy-nilly.

__________________________________________________ ________________"A politician will do almost anything to keep their job, even become a patriot" - Hearst

If this should be, our final stand,
we will stand together with pride
We will honour the past, and fight to the last,
it will be a good way to die
It matters not, if the cause is lost,
and we can not stop the tide
We will fight to the end, and then fight again,
it will be a good way to die

It was an attempt by the show's creator, Barry Cooper, to show corruption at OPD and raise attention to the imprisonment of Yolanda Madden.

Two years later however, Cooper, his wife Candi, and associate Tammy Grimes, were arrested and accused of making the false report to police that led them to the set up.

After Madden pleaded guilty and was sentenced, Odessa Police spoke to CBS 7 about the case on camera for one of the first times.

"This seems to put a cap on what has been the vindication of the conduct and behavior of the Odessa Police officers involved in this matter", said Chief Tim Burton, on July 28th 2010.

With Yolanda Madden admitting guilt and the Coopers charged with leading police to the scene, it looked like KopBusters was busted.

Then, today, a decision out of the County Attorney's office breathed new life into the KopBusters saga.

"They're not going to pursue the charges based on the facts given and the evidence available, which means, that there was not a crime committed", explains Barry Cooper’s Attorney, James Gill.

The KopBusters claim that Yolanda Madden only pleaded guilty to drug charges so she would not return to jail.

They also claim the dropped charges prove they did not lead police to the fake drug house.

"I just encourage everyone to continue following KopBusters, look it up online, follow them and see what's going on because the truth will be revealed", says Barry Cooper’s associate, Tammy Grimes.

At the July 28th press conference, Odessa Police Chief Tim Burton said Madden's confessions in court helped clear the department of wrongdoing.

But Cooper criticizes police for keeping quiet until then.

"It's not fair for the police to act like secret police and only comment when something seems to be benefiting them", says Mr. Cooper.

With the Odessa saga seemingly behind them, the KopBusters are moving on to another legal battle in Williamson County.

But while the Odessa episode is in the past, Cooper doesn't want it to be forgotten.

"I want the people of Odessa to understand that we did not come into their city to harm their city or any person. We came to free them and to free people who are being falsely imprisoned and accused of crimes they didn't commit", says Cooper.

In an interview with the Odessa American, County Attorney Cindy Weir-Nutter explained that making a false reporter to a peace officer must occur during an investigation for it to be prosecuted and in this case, there was no investigation.

Odessa Police issued a statement today saying they respect prosecutorial decision and thank the Texas Rangers and the County Attorney’s office for their efforts.

The Texas Rangers, who executed the arrest of Cooper’s wife Candi, did not immediately return our calls tonight requesting comment.

So... the Kopbusters, got busted... Go figure. The corrupt system protects its own.

I wonder if there's any way to launch an outside investigation to find out who lied on the search warrant. Seems like that should be a crime punishable by several years in prison.

Kopbusters next needs to follow up with a lawsuit against the police department of Odessa, Texas. It's tough luck that the city taxpayers will be on the hook for the payout, but the cash could go a long way toward funding more "counter stings" such as this... and perhaps the good citizens of Odessa would be motivated to exercise their voting rights to put in come city government that would reform the police department.

It's very simple, cops can do as they please, unless it's on video, it's your word against theirs, and they, the state, will always win.... they have no morals.

this, and they can kill you to...

"Masterful and arrogant wealth, created largely by Government protection of its profits, not content with its domination and influence within a single party, had sought to corrupt them both, and to that end had insinuated itself into the primaries, in order that no candidates might be nominated whose views were not in accord with theirs." (‘Colonel’ Edward Mandell House in 'Philip Dru: Administrator', circa 1912)